Palestinians clash with Israeli troops

Israeli troops have wounded at least six Palestinians during a confrontation in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinians marched to Tara checkpoint north of Ramallah where the confrontation occurred on Monday. Dozens hurled rocks at the soldiers. Israeli forces responded by using riot-dispersal tactics. An Israeli military spokesman denies reports by witnesses that soldiers had used live rounds.

Tensions between Palestinians and Israeli forces have escalated in recent weeks following an Israeli government decision to include West Bank religious sites in a Jewish national heritage plan. The announcement last week of Israeli plans for new settler homes near East Jerusalem has pushed tensions up even further.